Gadgets, gadgets, gadgets. Believe it or not they make the world go round. Whether we love them, hate them, need them, use them, or just plain want them; gadgets are cool. Yes, if nothing else they're cool! Life can be tough at times and gadgets are there to make things a little easier (and have fun while doing so). It was a real shame to hear "Q" in the new Bond movie, Skyfall, say that gadgets are a thing of the past, part of an "old" generation and have gone out the window for Double "O" agents. Why do that? We want to see a gun doubling up as a homing beacon, or a trip wire dispenser. The bottom line is we all love gadgets and here are few to look out for this Christmas season.
HOME: - liGo BlueWave
Given the popularity of mobile phones, landlines are slowly becoming a thing of the past. But for those unwilling to carry their "hand extensions" everywhere they go so as to not miss a call, need look no further than the new liGo. Connect liGo to your mobile via Bluetooth technology and simply plug-in your landline. Now you can answer up to 3 different mobiles via your home phone (corded or cordless) and make use of dialling out with those 1000's of unspent inclusive mobile minutes from anywhere in the home. Impressive, right? Especially useful for those of us whose mobile carrier signal suffers severe paralysis anywhere except for the most cumbersome of places. It's fully iPhone Voice Dial and Siri compatible as well. What more could you ask for?
HEALTH/FITNESS: - Garmin 910XT
Looking to get fit and stay healthy? This little device may quickly become your best friend. Sporting all the goodness of Garmin that runners have come to love, this GPS watch will do more than just track your run. Non-runners, or those keener on other disciplines have swimming or cycling mode fully supported, along with multi-sport and triathlon mode - you'll be sure to find fitness indoor or out a pleasure whatever the weather. With ANT+ wireless technology you can connect your foot pod or heart rate monitor (HRM) or both if you fancy and get instant feedback on up to 4 different workout statistics at once and full workout review upon completion at your PC. With accurate GPS tracking you'll soon be pushing yourself harder, faster, and further than you ever have trying out the Xbox Kinect, and be "cool" while doing so. Although it comes with a steep price tag compared to simpler and cheaper models for fitness newbies unsure of whether fitness is for them, it's a good a multi-sport fitness aid and one you'll be sure to hold onto for many a year, the 910XT gives great bang for your buck in the long run.
HOME: - liGo BlueWave
Given the popularity of mobile phones, landlines are slowly becoming a thing of the past. But for those unwilling to carry their "hand extensions" everywhere they go so as to not miss a call, need look no further than the new liGo. Connect liGo to your mobile via Bluetooth technology and simply plug-in your landline. Now you can answer up to 3 different mobiles via your home phone (corded or cordless) and make use of dialling out with those 1000's of unspent inclusive mobile minutes from anywhere in the home. Impressive, right? Especially useful for those of us whose mobile carrier signal suffers severe paralysis anywhere except for the most cumbersome of places. It's fully iPhone Voice Dial and Siri compatible as well. What more could you ask for?
HEALTH/FITNESS: - Garmin 910XT
Looking to get fit and stay healthy? This little device may quickly become your best friend. Sporting all the goodness of Garmin that runners have come to love, this GPS watch will do more than just track your run. Non-runners, or those keener on other disciplines have swimming or cycling mode fully supported, along with multi-sport and triathlon mode - you'll be sure to find fitness indoor or out a pleasure whatever the weather. With ANT+ wireless technology you can connect your foot pod or heart rate monitor (HRM) or both if you fancy and get instant feedback on up to 4 different workout statistics at once and full workout review upon completion at your PC. With accurate GPS tracking you'll soon be pushing yourself harder, faster, and further than you ever have trying out the Xbox Kinect, and be "cool" while doing so. Although it comes with a steep price tag compared to simpler and cheaper models for fitness newbies unsure of whether fitness is for them, it's a good a multi-sport fitness aid and one you'll be sure to hold onto for many a year, the 910XT gives great bang for your buck in the long run.
FUN: Archos Gamepad
This 7-inch 1024×600 resolution device is truly built with gamers in mind. Packing Android 4.1 JellyBean straight out of the box, the Gamepad is a fully functioning tablet with a lot of twist. Under the hood, it boasts an impressive 1.5 GHz dual-core processor with a Rockchip RK3066, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage with Micro SD support for more. The major appeal of the device is the built-in dedicated gaming buttons that most console and handheld gamers are used to with controls, buttons and triggers to keep everyone happy. Due on the market at any day, at a possible price tag of just over £100 this is one to look out for. Okay, it's no PS Vita, but with an Android platform, HDMI port and all things tablet worthy, it's not trying to be a one trick pony handheld console. An awesome gamer tablet it surely is.
TV: LG EA93 21:9 monitor
For the serious cinematic experience seekers look no further than the LG EA93 21:9 aspect ratio monitor. Sporting 1080p HD resolution but on a massive 2560 horizontal pixel display making it a visual utopia bettering the 16:9 by a mile and then some. Imagine coupling up 2 of these babies via its Dual-Link connectivity and we are talking one major screen viewing area. There's the standard HDMI, USB 3.0 ports and others, giving you everything you need from a screen. Bear in mind though, it's not the same height as an IMAX screen, but nothing is, so you'll still get a little cropping here and there, so be warned. Otherwise, welcome to cinema at home.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Sony NEX-6
Although a love for film and all the darkroom developing fluid goodness that comes with it still has a place in many a heart, there's nothing like having a good quality digital camera to hand when you want a good photography experience without lugging around your DSLR, and no, an iPhone simply won't do. As a step between the NEX-5N and NEX-7 the NEX-6 is perfect for those wanting beautiful 16 megapixel photos in a small package. The APS-C sized sensor produces wondrous low light pictures, preferable over the NEX-7's 24MP offerings, and you can pixel peep til your heart's content on the flip out screen. Using the same amazing OLED viewfinder found on the NEX-7 and Alpha A99 models, manual focusing is a doddle, whilst if autofocus is your preferred modus operandi then it's as fast and accurate as you can get in mirror-less technology, even if not quite beating the competition in the higher price bracket. With Wi-fi included in the body, uploading your pics couldn't be faster or easier, using the PlayMemories app. Using Sony adapters you get compatibility for all your Alpha, Leica and third-party Tamron/Sigma lens offerings, meaning you can use your favourite lenses as usual just on a smaller scale.
So there you have it! A little something for everyone to dip their hands into. One thing's for sure with these gadgets, you don't know what you're missing out on until you've tried them so jump on board, the ride is wild!
Having worked as an Cisco Engineer for the last 15 years I believe in the quality of Cisco Switches, and I absolutely love reviewing their latest products. My love affair with Cisco started when I first used one of their switches at university; it felt like routing and switching technology was really starting to blossom and my beloved Cisco were the ones leading the way forward. I highly recommend them because they are so secure and robust.